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Getting Started

Whether you want to earn a degree, improve your skills, get certified, train for a new career, or explore a new hobby, you can choose from many programs and courses.

Get Started
What type of student are you? New Student Returning Transfer Visiting International College Credit Plus Non-Credit All Student Types

Classes & Programs

Explore your interests and find a program that puts you on the path to a bright future. Tri-C offers both credit and non-credit courses as well as certificate programs in most career fields.

View all

Degree Programs & Certificates

More than 1,000 credit courses are offered each semester in more than 200 career and technical programs. Tri-C also grants short-term certificates, certificates of proficiency and post-degree professional certificates.

View A-Z Program List

Workforce Training & Professional Development

Tri-C's Workforce Training provides both non-credit and credit training for individuals and businesses to assist individuals with skills leading to employment. Tri-C's Corporate College provides professional development and corporate training opportunities.

Learn more

Community Programming for Adults & Youth

Tri-C offers a variety of affordable and convenient community programs for both adults and youth. These programs are designed to promote individual development.

Learn more
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Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical Therapist Assisting Program Accreditation Frequently Asked Questions Prerequisites Program Outcomes Program Costs Program Financial Fact Sheet
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Physical Therapist Assisting Program

Turn your passion into your career!
Hands-on, real-world experience
brand new fully-equipped lab space
Academic School: Nursing and Health Professions

Area of Study: Physical Therapist Assisting Technology 
Degree/Certificate: Associate of Applied Science degree in Physical Therapist Assisting Technology
Academic School: Nursing and Health Professions
State of Ohio: Meets educational requirements

Program Location: Metropolitan Campus
Program Start: Each new cohort of PTA students starts in the fall semester. The program currently accepts up to 24 new students each year. 
Application Deadline: There is no application deadline. The PTA program accepts applicants with ALL application requirements completed, on first-come basis, into the next available cohort.

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Tell us about yourself

If you are not already an active Tri-C student, you must first apply to the College. If you are interested in more than one health careers program, click on the Get Started Here button above and indicate all programs of interest on the form.

What is a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)?

  • A PTA is a licensed healthcare professional who helps people to recover from accidents, injuries, illnesses, strokes and other debilitating events by providing skilled physical therapy treatment.
  • A PTA helps people by promoting wellness, easing pain, improving mobility, increasing strength and restoring function.
  • A PTA uses treatment interventions such as therapeutic exercise, gait and balance training, transfer training, heat and cold therapy, mechanical and electrical modalities and manual techniques.

What kind of person makes a good PTA?

  • If you have an interest in anatomy, exercise and physical fitness, you might enjoy the physical therapy field. 
  • If you like to help people and enjoy working with body movement, this would be an active and rewarding career.
  • If you have good critical thinking skills and strong study habits, you will be able to handle the rigorous PTA program curriculum.

Why should I choose Tri-C’s PTA program?

  • Tri-C students get clinical experience with real patients at more than 75 clinical sites throughout Northeast Ohio, including all major medical centers.
  • The Tri-C PTA program has a brand-new, state-of-the-art laboratory facility with the latest equipment and technology.
  • The Tri-C PTA Program participates with other health care programs in our on-campus Preventative Care Center (PCC), giving students the unique opportunity to learn in a supervised environment while providing physical therapy treatment to members of the community, while also collaborating with doctoral physical therapy students and faculty from Cleveland State University.

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Program Updates

Now accepting applications for Fall 2025.

The PTA Program has updated the process by which we accept students into the program. Please review the Application Checklist for details and help with determine your readiness to submit your application. 

All PTA Program applicants must complete PTAT 1000-Introduction to Physical Therapy Patient Care offered on the Metro campus of Tri-C. 

PTAT 1000 is offered in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.

PLEASE NOTE:  Students entering the PTA Program in Fall 2025 will no longer need to take HTEC 1610: Introduction to Pharmacology.  

How to reach us

Christopher Headrick, PT DPT
Program Director
216-987-4221
christopher.headrick@tri-c.edu

Cuyahoga Community College
Metropolitan Campus - MSHC 122F
2900 Community College Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44115-3196

University Partnerships

Does your academic plan include earning a Bachelor Degree? Tri-C is a great place to start. View the list of partnerships we have with four year institutions. You can search by school or Tri-C major.

Tell us about yourself

Please complete this form to share your contact information, to help us to know why you visited the PTA Program website, to ask a question, and so we have a way to reach you with important program updates including upcoming information sessions.  


Additional Information

Transfer Programs

Does your academic plan include earning a Bachelor Degree? Tri-C is a great place to start. View the list of partnerships we have with four year institutions. You can search by school or Tri-C major.

Accreditation Status

Investigate our accreditation status.

Career & Job Outlook

Do you know what it's like to work in this field or what the salary range might be? Get more information.

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700 Carnegie Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115

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